Sprint Cup gets earlier slot on Haydock card

Quiet Reflection won the 32Red Sprint Cup last year, when it was run on soft ground. Picture: Racingfotos.com

The 32Red Sprint Cup at Haydock on Saturday will be run as the third race on the card at 2.25pm, the racecourse announced on Wednesday.

The Group 1 contest, which is the sixth leg in this year’s Sprint category of the QIPCO British Champions Series, had been scheduled to run at 4.10pm, but the racecourse executive have decided to move it forward almost two hours to ensure that the six-furlong showpiece takes place on the freshest possible ground.

At present the going at Haydock Park is good to soft after 19 millimetres of rain in the past two days. The latest forecast predicts dry conditions today before up to a further 20 millimetres before racing on Saturday.

The 48-hour declaration stage for the Sprint Cup is on Thursday morning.

Harry Angel, the Darley July Cup winner, heads the betting at around 2-1, with Brando, successful in Group 1 company in France last time, next in the market. The first three home in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes – The Tin Man, Tasleet and Limato – are also possible runners.